We ADORE South Africa ! It really has to be one of the most spectacular countries on the planet, with dramatic scenery at every turn - add in fabulous wildlife, great cities, a lovely climate (rarely too hot, rarely too cold) and some of the best food & wine (we’re easily swayed!) anywhere, and it’s easy to see why South Africa is one of our favourite places! All South Africa trips should take in CapeTown at some point - talk about an incredible city! The setting is stunning, with Table Mountain as its backdrop, plus there’s loads to see and do. We love the hop-on hop-off buses that will take you to all of the main sights, including the beaches of Camps Bay and the seals of Hout Bay. Be sure to head down to the Cape Peninsula – dramatic scenery, incredible flora & fauna, and all just a short drive form the city. South Africa is perfect for a Fly-Drive holiday , or we can also arrange an Escorted Tour, or just a few days in a couple of locations with transfers inclu...

We're continuing our look back at our teams travels this week - Mark visited Australia on an epic three-state trip, starting in Sydney, moving to Victoria and driving most of the Queensland Coast in a campervan - here's a quick look at the highlights of his Aussie adventure. . . . Starting in Sydney ​ The first time I visited Australia was 27 years ago as an 18-year old backpacker, but I'm always excited to go back - it's one of the most diverse, incredible countries on the planet. As with many visits Down Under I started in Sydney , which is a very easy city to get to grips with - for me, if you stay anywhere between Central Station and Circular Quay you can't go too far wrong, and it's such as easy place to explore. I stayed right in the middle of Sydney at the Grace Hotel , which has pretty much everything you want to see within a 20 minute walk - I took in the Sydney Tower Eye, Darling Harbour and the amazing Sydney Opera House, all on foot. ...

We're having a look back at some of our favourite travels from last year - Karen headed to the USA, visiting New York, Miami and Las Vegas, on an action-packed trip. Here's a quick look at the highlights of her visit State-side . . . . The Big Apple ​ I've been to various parts of the States before, but this was my first trip to New York - it's one of those cities that's so well known on TV and in films that you kind of feel that you know it already, so it did feel like I was on a movie set at times - or at least in an episode of Friends!  I chose to stay close to Penn station as I was taking the train to my next destination - the Wyndham New Yorker is in such a handy location, plus I love the Art Deco feel of the place. I used the hop-on hop-off buses quite a bit - what a great way to get around and to take in all the main sights - plus I took a cruise out towards the Statue of Liberty, which was fab! There's so much to see and do that you could g...

As 2019 gets underway we've been having a look back at our favourite trips of 2018 - we love to travel at Escape Worldwide, and one of Darren's favourite trips last year (there were many to choose from!) was to Indonesia, taking in the islands of Bali and Java. Here's a quick look at his highlights . . . . TheBeaches of Bali ​I've been to Bali a number of times over the years, but this time I also visited a totally new place for me, the neighbouring island of Java. On Bali I based myself in the lively resort of Seminyak - probably my favourite part of the island - but explored all the main resorts. When I say 'explored' I actually mean 'bar-crawled' - there's no better way to get to know a place! Seminyak has a real buzz to it, with loads of restaurants and bars, but it's not as lively as Kuta. For me the reason I love Seminyak is for sunsets - grab a beanbag on the beach and a cold Bintang beer, and watch the sun set in specta...

TOP 5 ROMANCE Add a little romance to your life with our top 5 romantic destinations. LIGHT A SKY LANTERN ON THE BEACH IN THAILAND Traditional sky lanterns are launched across Thailand for celebrations and to bring good luck, and there’s no better way to mark a special occasion than to launch your own lantern in to the night sky. Made out of rice paper and a bamboo frame, the lanterns can drift for miles in a breeze before gently returning to the ground once the candle has gone out. The most popular time to launch a sky lantern is during the Loi Krathong festival in November, but lanterns are available in most beach resorts year-round – our suggestion would be to head for Krabi , and watch your lantern rise above a backdrop of island and outcrops of Phang Nga Bay. HOT AIR BALLOON OVER THE MASAI MARA, KENYA A safari is a special travel experience, and a balloon ride over the plains of Africa is truly something else – a real ‘once in a lifetime’ experience when the roma...

Away from the theme parks of Orlando, Florida’s far south holds a wealth of interest and something a little out of the ordinary. Darren picked up a car in Miami and headed through the Florida Keys to Key West. Miami acts as the main gateway to southern Florida, and as one of the coolest cities in the US it’s a great place to start a trip. Most of the action takes place in Miami Beach rather than downtown, and Collins Avenue is really at the heart of things. Miami Beach Historic District is home to the largest collection of Art Deco architecture in the world, with many of the buildings now turned in to hotels and clubs. Coined ‘Millionaires Row’, Collins Avenue is the place to be and be seen in Miami. From Miami it’s only a little over 50 miles until you leave the mainland and hit the Florida Keys, a chain of picture-postcard coral cays that run over 100 miles southwest to Key West. The first town you’ll hit is Key Largo, a world away from the bright lights and glamour of Miami,...

A driving holiday is a superb way to really get to know a destination, and many countries are well suited to this style of holiday. Darren shares some of his favourites. The USA is one of the most popular self-drive destinations and there are a myriad of routes and itineraries you can consider, from the theme parks and beaches of Florida, the volcanoes and coastline of the Hawaiian Islands or the classic Route 66 from Chicago to Los Angeles. One of the most popular itineraries combines the states of Nevada and California, taking in Las Vegas, San Francisco and LA, plus a host of other locations in between. From Vegas it’s only a short drive to the Grand Canyon, albeit in the wrong direction, while the route through to San Francisco will take you via Death Valley and Yosemite National Parks. Then follow the Californian coast south to LA, stopping in the likes of Monterey, Carmel and Santa Barbara en route. If you want to combine your transport and your accommodation, then hiri...